Saturday, August 2, 2014

Addressing My CrossFit Problem

*Sigh...
Where do I begin?

6 months later. From this point in time.
I have been reflecting as of late. Just marveling, honestly, in how much has changed in my life. Of God's greater purpose in my journey of life this past 1/2 year. How His orchestrated plan is slowly playing out. Piece by piece.

So I wanted to share the pieces that I have been shown. And help you to see what I see...
I left my old CrossFit gym as an athlete. And no longer coached. I began working out at home while trying to discern my forward movement from there. Lots of deep emotions. Pain. Hurt. Which all equated to big FEAR. Looking back now, I see it. And it controlled me for a long while. In fact, it still creeps its ugly head into my life in relation to my athletic career.

But, eventually, I made a decision to hire a new coach. I knew God called me to fitness as a platform of my faith. As a
platform of encouragement, one of my spiritual gifts. I knew that He
was gifting me in the sport of CrossFit-which seemed like the obvious
direction to go and was going...and then it all changed. And I had no idea what I was
to do next. It seemed crazy for God to give me such a clear direction
in the sport, only to have it all taken away...I was encouraged by
acquaintances who were big in the CrossFit sport,
who have made it, who have achieved the goals I was/am working toward
each day....to hire a coach. Start there.

It's the way the sport is going. Get someone personalizing your
workouts to your goals. Address your weaknesses. Build on your
strengths. Someone to focus just on you.

So I did.
Katie Chasey. Also, known as Katie RxBound. Owner/Operator of RxBound. Based out of Florida.

Whenever people ask, that line always gets them.
"How does that work?" Is usually followed up after a confused look.

I hired her as a satellite coach. What that means is I video my workouts each day, send them to her, and she observes them in her time and gets back to me with her coaching cues/tips/corrections....along with encouragement and motivation. I have worked out by myself most of my CrossFit career. Have been self-taught on the majority of my training in technique. The majority of my workload has been completed in my garage, just me and my bar. But now I have a new set of eyes on me...eyes that come from an extensive background in coaching and lifting. Expertise. Programming.

Every rep. Every lift. Every movement. She critiques. And I get instant feedback.

What is also awesome is I have become part of a worldwide "team." Team RxBound. I submit videos to a group board along with several Master's age women living in Florida. A handful of men from Eastern Europe. And a few others. All coached by Katie. All people I "train" with daily. People I consider friends. And they have become my "box." My community. My motivators. My competition.

This is the cool part of this story.
This is the piece of the puzzle I see God's hand in.

What God blessed me with since then, well...read for yourself...straight from my coaches mouth...as the purpose of our team:"First
and foremost, I aim to glorify the Lord in everything I do and to enjoy
Him forever. Every day is an opportunity to do that. RXBound means more
than RX "as prescribed" in every workout, but it is far more than that.
It is living life as Christ prescribed. We all fall, slip, sin, and
fail. Living for Christ is first and foremost realizing our shortcomings
to understand our need for a perfect Savior. We can’t do a thing
without Him but we can do all things through Him. Therefore, it is not
about doing everything perfectly but rather it is about doing our
absolute best in everything we do and in doing so we reveal more about
who God is. In our training and in our lives, we remember to give praise
and glory to God in our discernment, in our decision-making, in our
goal-setting, and in our goal-achieving.

What
RXBound is NOT is selling yourself short, giving up, or quitting. Do
everything at your best from the moment you wake up to the time you walk
into the gym, from the start of the timer to running through the tape.

I
founded RXbound based on 1 Timothy 4:7-8 "......train yourself to be
godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value
for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life
to come.”

This. This is where I got lost before. I began making my achievements mine. I began making my purpose about me. I was working hard and going to get myself to the next level. Me.

Wrong.
God was going to do it His way. I was going to live out His goals for me, but this was the avenue He wanted me to go. And it makes so much sense now.

I workout at home, now. Not at a box. While my kids play outside, or sleep quietly inside. I can workout and be coached at my own house, especially during crazy weeks my husband is working and sleeping through his swing shifts. I don't have to worry about getting to a gym, to get a workout in, to get coached. To hire a sitter so I can go. No I get better. I get to be home. I do my workouts in my own time. Maybe between making waffles and filling milk cups. Or taking kids to potty breaks. Most days my clothes don't match and I might even forget to put on deodorant...but who cares. It's just me.

God wanted to make that aspect of training easier on me. I see that now.

I also workout outside of the gym. A lot. I am at a track a few times a week. I swim a few times a week. I get out on my bike some.
All things I love to do. And are making me a more well-rounded athlete. And keep me motivated. I look forward to those workout days! And the change in the norm. And on top of that, I was offered a job at the YMCA, which has an indoor pool. That I can use. And didn't have access to before.

I also get a new workout schedule each Sunday...and it's personalized to me. If I'm going to be in Kansas City for doctor's appointments for Blake all day Tuesday...Katie programs a light day....because God knew I am a dedicated, loyal follower to a plan...And all sorts of busy with my crew of kiddos. He knew that personalized programming would be the best way for me to keep working hard and maintaining a high volume workout load, without stressing about missing a workout. All while keeping up with my wife and mom duties, which are most important to me.

Again, I see it now. A perfectly orchestrated plan. One, I'm sorry to say, took me awhile to have faith in. To trust.

But now I see. A plan.
One I feel God's blessing in. Within His will. And He is moving. He is providing me with opportunities to use my platform. To be fearless. As an athlete. Confident in His role for me. He is gifting my abilities. My progress. He is blessing me with new friendships half a world away.
(He also blessed me with another opportunity serve others through coaching. But that's for another day. Another piece of the puzzle I'll share.)